Assignment 1: Definition Exploration (10%)
Define "open source science." Are there a variety of definitions, or is there a standard and accepted definition? Trace the roots of the open source science movement. Be sure to identify major players. Use resources on this wiki to help shape your answers. Please post responses on the class wiki.
Assignment 2:Mini Process Essay: How are drugs tested?(10%)
In a short essay, try to address each of the questions listed in the link above. Write a brief essay, and submit your answers on the class wiki.
Assignment 3: Cause and Effect Essay (15%)
What major diseases most impact developing nations? Which geographic regions are most cursed with these diseases? What are the root causes of these diseases, and what are the temporary and permanent effects? What is being done to address these issues? What initiatives, profit or non-profit, are taking place? How does pharmaceutical neglect play a role? To answer these questions, a student should organize his or her ideas, examine the economics, socio-political structure, justice system, and healthcare systems of the countries involved.
Assignment 4:Descriptive-Narrative In-Class Exam (timed - 81 minutes) 10%
Imagine living in the country where "your" disease is a killer. Write a descriptive narrative about a day in your life. This exam is timed, and you may bring nothing with you to the exam. You are encouraged, however, to think about the topic and plan, in your head, what you would like to write about. This is an English Division requirement, and it is non-negotiable.
Assignment 5: Persuasive Essay (15%)
How will open source science address the needs of developing communities?
Assignment 6:Research Paper: 20%
The capstone of this course is a comprehensive research paper. Students must write a 10-page persuasive essay using scholarly support to explore one of the topics presented in class (AIDS, malaria, tuberculosis, or arsenic in drinking water). Students will compile their research from other essays, conduct primary research, and disseminate information to a non-scientific audience. This paper will follow the MLA documentation style. According to LCCC policy, students must pass the research paper component to exit English 105.
Assignment 7: In-Class Compare/Constrast Final Exam (timed - 2 hours) 10%
LCCC policy requires all students in English 105 to complete an in-class (timed) final exam. The question(s) may not be provided in advance; however, the rhetorical mode will be compare/contrast. Students may not bring anything with them to the exam.
Weekly Assignments:
Adopt-a-Chemist
Visit the UsefulChem Blog and adopt one of the student chemists (graduate or undergraduate) to follow for the semester. Look for his or her posts, and try to communicate his or her materials to a general audience. However, remember that we aren't chemists (they are), so we don't really want to just recapitulate their experiments. We want to look at what they are doing, ask questions, and try to explain the process to others (like us) who don't know a whole lot about chemistry. If you stumble over words you don't know, ask one of the student chemists, Dr. Bradley, or look it up. You can post definitions or links to definitions on a compiled vocabulary list.
College English 105 Honors: Beth Ritter-Guth (coming Spring 2007)
Class Wiki
Class Blog
UsefulChem Linked Assignments:
Assignment 1: Definition Exploration (10%)
Define "open source science." Are there a variety of definitions, or is there a standard and accepted definition? Trace the roots of the open source science movement. Be sure to identify major players. Use resources on this wiki to help shape your answers. Please post responses on the class wiki.
Assignment 2: Mini Process Essay: How are drugs tested? (10%)
In a short essay, try to address each of the questions listed in the link above. Write a brief essay, and submit your answers on the class wiki.
Assignment 3: Cause and Effect Essay (15%)
What major diseases most impact developing nations? Which geographic regions are most cursed with these diseases? What are the root causes of these diseases, and what are the temporary and permanent effects? What is being done to address these issues? What initiatives, profit or non-profit, are taking place? How does pharmaceutical neglect play a role? To answer these questions, a student should organize his or her ideas, examine the economics, socio-political structure, justice system, and healthcare systems of the countries involved.
Assignment 4: Descriptive-Narrative In-Class Exam (timed - 81 minutes) 10%
Imagine living in the country where "your" disease is a killer. Write a descriptive narrative about a day in your life. This exam is timed, and you may bring nothing with you to the exam. You are encouraged, however, to think about the topic and plan, in your head, what you would like to write about. This is an English Division requirement, and it is non-negotiable.
Assignment 5: Persuasive Essay (15%)
How will open source science address the needs of developing communities?
Assignment 6: Research Paper: 20%
The capstone of this course is a comprehensive research paper. Students must write a 10-page persuasive essay using scholarly support to explore one of the topics presented in class (AIDS, malaria, tuberculosis, or arsenic in drinking water). Students will compile their research from other essays, conduct primary research, and disseminate information to a non-scientific audience. This paper will follow the MLA documentation style. According to LCCC policy, students must pass the research paper component to exit English 105.
Assignment 7: In-Class Compare/Constrast Final Exam (timed - 2 hours) 10%
LCCC policy requires all students in English 105 to complete an in-class (timed) final exam. The question(s) may not be provided in advance; however, the rhetorical mode will be compare/contrast. Students may not bring anything with them to the exam.
Weekly Assignments:
Adopt-a-Chemist
Visit the UsefulChem Blog and adopt one of the student chemists (graduate or undergraduate) to follow for the semester. Look for his or her posts, and try to communicate his or her materials to a general audience. However, remember that we aren't chemists (they are), so we don't really want to just recapitulate their experiments. We want to look at what they are doing, ask questions, and try to explain the process to others (like us) who don't know a whole lot about chemistry. If you stumble over words you don't know, ask one of the student chemists, Dr. Bradley, or look it up. You can post definitions or links to definitions on a compiled vocabulary list.
Citation Materials:
MLA Workshop Materials:CSE Workshop Materials
ACS Workshop Materials
Research Paper Guidelines:
Length and Documentation:
10 pages, 10 scholarly sources
Statistics (indicating present needs/issues - <4 years)
Ancillary/historical materials - open end
All papers/essays must feed into research paper